DES MOINES, IA - Grand View closed out the Fong's Pizza Classic in style, downing Concordia (NE) 3-1 on its home field as Lucas Newhard scored twice and set up a third to power the Vikings past the Bulldogs.
Concordia (NE) controlled the run of play early, forcing a pair of corner kicks in the opening five minutes. The Vikings began to find their footing as the half wore on, with Hayato Yoshitake testing the Bulldogs' goal on a shot and a header, and Justin Figaroa forcing a save in the 27th minute. Helm did his part at the other end too, turning away back-to-back attempts in the 19th and 28th minutes to keep the game scoreless.
Grand View kept pushing for a breakthrough behind Anthony Ulloa's corner kicks and a flurry of late chances from Herman Furumo, Justin Figaroa and Lucas Newhard, and the pressure finally paid off in the late first-half. In the 40th minute, Newhard buried his first goal of the season off a long feed from goalkeeper Luis Helm, sending the Vikings into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Grand View carried that momentum into the second half. Ulloa had an early look sail high in the 51st minute, and Yoshitake followed with a chance of his own in the 57th, but Concordia (NE) settled in and began generating its own opportunities drawing a save out of Helm in the 69th minute. The Vikings answered with the knockout blow shortly after: in the 73rd minute, Newhard struck again, this time finishing off a feed from Furumo to make it 2-0.
Grand View wasn't finished. Just seven minutes later, Newhard turned provider, setting up Ulloa for his second goal of the year in the 80th minute to push the lead to 3-0. Concordia (NE) got one back almost immediately, as the Bulldogs scored in the 81st minute to make it 3-1, but could get no closer. Concordia (NE) had a late look go wide in the 88th minute, and Helm and the Vikings backline closed the door from there to secure the win.
Newhard's two goals and an assist headlined the win, with Ulloa adding a goal and an assist of his own and Helm chipping in an assist to go with his work in net for Grand View.
SCORING SUMMARY
MATCH NOTES
- Saves: Luis Helm (Grand View) 3
- Corner kicks: Concordia (NE) 4, Grand View 3
WHAT'S NEXT?
Grand View returns to the Cownie Soccer Complex for their first conference match up against Baker University on September 12th.
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